HAZELWOOD, MO -- Dynamic Vending, based here, has acquired a St. Louis vending operation from Aramark. Dynamic founder Josh Koritz reported that the purchase included the vending machines and vehicles on the four Aramark routes, plus all the inventory.

Koritz said that the acquisition was especially valuable because the majority of Aramark's locations were easy to add to his company's dynamically scheduled routes.

"We combined all the routes by putting wireless on all the machines," he told VT. This enabled Dynamic to integrate most of the Aramark stops into its own delivery structure, eliminating three routes without losing sales. One of the Aramark route drivers has joined the Dynamic field service team.

The acquisition also has substantially boosted Dynamic Vending's sales volume in the St. Louis market, strengthening the company's purchasing power. "We used Cantaloupe [Seed] wireless boxes and the LightSpeed Automation picking system to achieve a seamless transition," Koritz said.

Dynamic Vending has been applying remote monitoring, depletion forecasting and warehouse prekitting to the ongoing task of improving route efficiency. The company had 43 routes a year ago, and now, counting those acquired from Aramark, has 34.

Koritz reports that this reduction has been attained without impairing volume growth; he is projecting an 8% increase in sales.

photo | BEST PRACTICES: Josh Koritz (right) and Tony Accardi, Dynamic Vending (Hazelwood, MO), host Canadian operators Jacques Dube and Kim Lockie, McMurray Coin Machines Ltd. (Fort McMurray, AB), for tour of Dynamic's warehouse and demonstration of its LightSpeed Automation computer-controlled stock-picking navigation system. Koritz started Dynamic Vending as a one-man, one-machine operation and has grown it steadily by applying new technology that maximizes customer service and increases sales while reducing costs. | SEE STORY